County Championship Round 4: Gloucestershire v Leicestershire

 

Preview:

After the heart-stopping excitement of the draw against Hampshire, Gloucestershire are back in action at Bristol against Leicestershire.

Whereas Gloucestershire have won two and lost one, Leicestershire suffered heavy defeats against Somerset (9 wickets) and Hampshire (an innings and 105), although they escaped with a draw against Surrey after conceding 672-8d. So, on paper, this is a game that the Shire would hope to win to keep their top-two options very much alive, knowing that Somerset will be pressing hard to make up lost ground. With Leicestershire’s bowling misfiring (so far they have conceded 612-5d, 672-8d, 318 & 118-1: 1720 runs for 24 wickets at a cost of 71.7 each), Gloucestershire will look to their top five to make big runs.

The 15-player squad includes all three overseas players (of whom the unfortunate Graeme van Buuren is likely to be the one to miss out), plus David Payne, Tom Smith (unlucky to have missed out v Hants) and George Scott. David Payne’s form means that a place has to be found for him, if available and Dom Goodman has bowled extremely well in both his games, which makes the places of Josh Shaw and, possibly, Matt Taylor vulnerable. The most interesting decision may well be whether to persist with the 5-seamer attack, or play Tom Smith (assuming that Graeme van Buuren has to miss out).

 

Day 1:

Watery sunshine at Bristol and two changes for the Shire: despite being named in the squad, David Payne was not included, as his wife has not given birth yet but, after feeling the lack of a front-line spin option, Tom Smith came in for Matt Taylor, who had struggled a bit against Hampshire. You felt better for the presence of a more balanced attack. Chris Dent won the Toss and inserted, probably thinking that any life in the Bristol pitch would happen early and that the Leicestershire batting was a bit fragile. By the end of the day, that decision was looking increasingly debatable.

It took only moments for the drama to start. Second ball of the morning Dan Worrall thudded one into the pads of Hassan Azad, Leicestershire’s star bat and got him LBW: it really did look absolutely plumb. This was Dan Worrall’s 200^th First Class wicket at an average of 27.6. However, there was no swing for him and, seeing it, he started visibly to crank the speed up. The Sun went in and, with both batsmen looking comfortable, it was 30-1 after 12 overs and time for Dom Goodman, now promoted to first change, to enter the attack, starting with another pinpoint over. At the other end, Josh Shaw took over from Ryan Higgins. There was no sign of an alarm until Josh Shaw found the edge of Evans’ bat and just fell short of Kraigg Brathwaite at 1^st Slip; to add insult to injury, the ball went for four. It really set the tone for the day. The 50 came up in the 19^th over (50-1, Harris 20*, Evans 24*) and you started to wonder how long it would be before Tom Smith came into the attack. Certainly, it looked already as if the seamers would have a lot of hard work and that the decision to insert was questionable.

Sure enough, there was a double change in the 23^rd over: first Dan Worrall replaced Josh Shaw to try a second burst, then Tom Smith came on for Dom Goodman. In fact, after the early wicket, the only really good news of the morning was that Hampshire had sunk to 44-6: those 230 overs in the field seemed to be taking their toll. 92-1 from 34 overs at Lunch, Harris 49*, Evans 37* and not the score that the Captain would have been hoping for.

During Lunch, as the clouds got darker, first the covers and then the tarpaulins were brought on and, at the scheduled re-start, it looked pretty miserable and grey. The delay, though, was not a long one and the batsmen resumed the business of grinding out a total. Both batsmen were past 50 and it was hard to see how a wicket would come. Suddenly, out of nothing, Dan Worrall angled a ball across Harris who groped and James Bracey accepted the edge. Harris 62 and 127-2. Rain was spitting down again and batting was not quite so comfortable, maybe due to the moisture on the pitch. Dan Worrall was getting a smidgen of outswing with the old ball. Next over from Dan Worrall, straight one angled-in to the new batsman, Patel. The ball did not deviate at all and hit off as Patel left it extravagantly. 129-3  and Leicestershire wobbling a little. Evans though was still there and, with Hill, settled the innings again. 168-3 at Tea, with Evans 65* and Hill 27*.

The tonic remained the same after Tea. 200 up in the 74^th over. Tom Smith wheeling away at one end, without much threat, seamers alternating at the other as the new ball bowlers were rested. All very genteel, as if the game was on hold until the second new ball became available. With five overs to go to the new ball, Chris Dent convinced the umpires that the ball was out of shape, but changing it made no difference: Hill cruised on to his 50 and the bowling held minimal threat. Last delivery before the new ball, Tom Smith finally hit the pad and went up, but the ball seemed to be going well down leg… slightly optimistic that appeal. The new ball was taken at 221-3 but not before Dom Goodman’s economy was severely dented by an expensive final over that went for 13.

Dan Worrall’s first delivery with the new ball was extraordinary: it started very wide and then swung late and violently, going between 1^st and 2^nd Slip for 5 wides. It set the pattern: unlike the first new ball, which had barely deviated, he could get some big outswing, but only by bowling very wide of off. The only scares were one for James Bracey, who took a blow on the finger from a Ryan Higgins delivery that surprised him by lifting. The ‘keeper was in some discomfort for a time and stopped standing up. Then Evans got an inside edge and the ball passed agonisingly close to leg stump. A clip to leg off Dan Worrall and Evan moved to his century (251 balls, 13x4) and, at 247-3, Gloucestershire had a real problem. When something happened finally, it could only be thanks to Dan Worrall: Evans turned a ball on leg to Tom Lace at Short Square Leg and departed for 102, absolutely furious with himself. Worrall with 4-53 and a new batsman in against the still new ball. That, though, was that. 264-4 after the 96 overs, with Hill 77* and Swindells, 3*. The Shire with a solitary bowling point and just 14 overs to take a minimum of two more wickets to get a second.

Day 2:

After a quiet first day in which run-scoring was never easy, but wickets did not come (this sounds horribly like the game at the Ageas Bowl), Gloucestershire needed quick wickets to get the second bonus point – a third would surely be impossible. Leicestershire needed 36 runs in 14 overs for a third batting point. The first hour would be critical in shaping the day ahead for both sides. What the Shire did not want was to chase another massive first innings total on a pitch that could deteriorate.

The opinion at the start was that if Leicestershire were still batting at Tea, the best result possible would be a draw. Early signs were hopeful as, after a quite anonymous first day, Ryan Higgins started making chances immediately. Swindells drove the ball back to him, uppishly, fourth ball and Higgins took a painful blow to the hand trying to take the low chance. Fortunately, we did not have to wait long for a wicket: with the thirteenth ball of the morning the selfsame Swindells came half forward to Ryan Higgins, missed and was sent on his way, LBW. 268-5, Swindells 5. In came Mike, who was lucky to escape an inside edge past leg stump, again off Ryan Higgins. Then, the batsmen went for a quick single and Hill just beat the direct hit at the bowler’s end. 284-5 and half chances coming thick and fast. More seriously though, Bobby Bracey took another blow on the finger standing up to Ryan Higgins. The glove came off and, after a long delay, he went off and Tom Lace took over behind the stumps.

Unfortunately, half-chances did not become wickets and, again, runs started to come much faster as a new stand developed, only ended when Ryan Higgins (who else?) served up a ball to drive on 5^th stump line, that Hill got a thick inside edge onto, deflecting the ball onto his stumps. Hill 121 (221 balls, 15x4, 1x6) and 360-6. So, Lunch was reached at 362-6 and the Shire needed to wrap-up the innings quickly after Lunch. That, though, never looked like being an option. Mike got to his 50, the 400 approached and any thought of a win, disappeared. Finally, Tom Smith, who had bowled well, despite his limitations in the 4-day game, won a shout for LBW against Parkinson – 393-7. And still they came! Two boundaries in a Tom Smith over to Wright and up came the 400. It was not pretty to watch.

Just when it was too late to be any real use save to limit the damage, that little flurry of wickets that you had expected three sessions ago appeared. Josh Shaw got one to lift a little at Mike, who touched it through to Tom Lace: 405-8. Then he bowled a magnificent Yorker that completely defeated Klein, stumps flying third ball: 405-9. Wright though was determined to enjoy himself and smashed the persisting Tom Smith for a 6 and a 4, back over his head before Dan Worrall gave him a straight one that he missed and sent stumps and bails akimbo.

421ao. At Lunch, it had looked like being much worse. Worrall with 34.1-9-79-5 was the star with the ball. Certainly, at 360-5, Leicestershire would have been hoping for 500+, but their last 4 wickets went down for 24. If only they had found that collapse two sessions earlier…

Out came Kraigg Brathwaite and Chris Dent. The latter got very lucky when an edge dropped just fractionally short of 2^nd Slip. Things were looking good, even if both openers played and missed more than one would like until, with three Slips waiting, Kraigg Brathwaite overbalanced a little playing across the pad to Wright. The ball was probably hitting leg. Brathwaite LBW for 9, 28-1 and the day had just got a little worse again. Reassuringly, in came James Bracey, who was obviously not too badly inconvenienced by his finger injury. 33-1 at Tea, Chris Dent 17* and James Bracey 1* and still a long, long way behind.

The advent of the change bowlers after Tea brought an acceleration. Chris Dent crashed a square cut for six as a spell of 5 overs brought 42 runs, including his own 50 (71 balls, 8x1, 1x6), while Bobby Bracey seemed untroubled by his injury. However, with the score on 99-1 and his own tally on 27, he played right across a ball from Parkinson and was palpably LBW. Now, the Shire needed a score from Tom Lace. Disaster followed when Chris Dent pushed at a ball across him from Wright and departed for 53. Two wickets had fallen in four balls on 99 and that follow-on mark was, for the second week running, looking a long way away. Ian Cockbain survived two balls. The third was straight and full and hit him on the toe. 99-1… comfortable. 99-4… in dire straits. It was a horrible collapse. Eventually, Tom Lace clipped the ball through Mid-Wicket for the boundary to bring up the 100, but with the Shire in an awful mess and Leicestershire thinking of a first win in Bristol since 1998. It got worse still soon enough. Klein gave Tom Lace a ball outside off that the batsman obligingly steered to 2^nd Slip. 103-5 and the batting in full shambles mode. The inexplicable panic continued as Ryan Higgins played across a straight one from Wright and departed LBW for 5. 121-6.

Five wickets had fallen for 22 in 39 balls, on a blameless pitch, to an attack that had taken just 23 wickets at 73 each in its previous three games.

Seventeen balls passed without a run off the bat, a sequence broken only by a no ball. The spell was broken when Klein dropped short and George Hankins hooked him nicely for four. Sixteen more deliveries without a run off the bat, again, only a single no ball breaking the sequence and we got a repeat: ball slightly too straight from Evans and hit through Mid-wicket for another boundary. Then Tom Smith got off the mark with a nicely timed on-drive for four. Slowly the score was mounting. A wild bouncer from Mike that flew over George Hankins and the wicket-keeper and went for four byes, a full toss, dispatched gratefully through the covers for four more then, next ball, the second wild bouncer of the over with the same result and, this time, signalled no ball. The pained look of “what on earth is going on?” from Swindells, behind the stumps, was expressive, but the six added to the score brought up the 150. Two more off his legs to George Hankins from the extra ball and seventeen runs from the over: 19 from the last 7 balls.

The shadows lengthening as the Sun played hide and seek with the clouds, back came Parkinson to bowl his slow left arm, but that did not stop the rush of runs: seven off the over, including another boundary to George Hankins. Mike offered Tom Smith a full toss outside leg and the batsmen added another boundary. The balconies of the flats were filling up and even had something to applaud. Parkinson decided to surround Tom Smith with close catchers, who were probably not happy to see him deliver a short ball outside off that, fortunately for the close catchers, Tom Smith cut delicately through a gap for four. There were plenty of alarms, plenty of appeals but, slowly the batsmen were getting on top. Mike offered Tom Smith a vicious bouncer in the last over of the day that he just avoided, but then gave him width on leg and three more came from a ball that was pulled up just short of the Square Leg boundary.

176-6 at the Close, George Hankins 29*, Tom Smith 19* and 96 needed to save the follow-on. Not quite the situation that the Captain would have envisaged.

If the Shire plans on a top-two finish, these bad days have to stop soon. 

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Just to note: I am off social media for a while. This is nothing to do with the boycott (although I support it, because the players need our support, not our abuse), but rather that my mobile 'phone, which was repaired recently, has just failed again and won't go to repair before the day after this game.

I will keep updating this blog, but probably no one will notice :-).

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Day 3:

In the end, rain and a much better day for the Shire mean that this game seems to be heading for a draw, barring remarkable events on the last day.

For starters, Gloucestershire needed a long partnership to extricate themselves from the mess that they had got into. For half an hour all seemed well. George Hankins and Tom Smith took their partnership to 73, and were starting to score with considerable freedom again: a Cover Drive for four by George Hankins off Wright, followed by a clip to Fine Leg for two and a cut for four more – ten from 3 balls. Tom Smith then produced a savage cut for four off Evans. Unfortunately, George Hankins then played down the wrong line to Wright and was possibly a little unlucky to be given LBW for 37. 194-7 and saving the follow-on once more becoming unlikely. In came Dan Worrall, who is showing little evidence of being better than a #11. Wright bowled him middle stump only to see that No Ball had been called: Worrall knew nothing of the delivery whatsoever. That would have been 198-8. Possibly as a result he decided that he was out to enjoy himself and brought up the 200 with an extraordinary slash over Gulley. Next ball, the ball passed the inside edge and everyone went up but, somehow, the umpire did not give it.

219 behind. 70 needed to avoid the follow-on. Mike overpitched on leg and Tom Smith produced a lovely on-drive for 4. 206-7, 66 needed. Dan Worrall then launched an authentic Cover Drive off Evans – 212-7, 60 needed – where did that come from??? It was evident that Dan Worrall was not thinking of survival, although one wished that he would – he has but a single First Class fifty to his name and an average of 13 – and, finally, he went after one ball too many: Parkinson bowled one well outside off that turned away a fraction, Worrall slashed at it and somehow deflected the inside edge onto leg stump. 215-8, 66 needed and Leicestershire facing an interesting question as to whether or not to enforce the follow-on. Surely the Shire would not bat this badly again?

First, it was time for Josh Shaw, average 11, to make another bid to go in ahead of Dan Worrall. His tactics included a classic 9-iron shot off Parkinson: seeing that Mid-On and Mid-Off were not far back, he lobbed the ball nicely over them and saw how it plugged short of the boundary. That was followed by a delicate deflection past 1^st Slip that went for 4 more. So, at 240-8 and Lunch approaching, on came Jupiter Pluvius for a cameo appearance and on came the covers and one tarpaulin to greet him, although it was evident that the rain, despite being fairly hard, was not going to last long. Early Lunch taken, with the Shire 181 behind, 32 needed to avoid the possibility of being asked to follow-on and, of course, out came the Sun. Came the scheduled re-start, Sun still shining brightly, and Jupiter Pluvius back on for another stint. Back came the tarpaulin, then another and another until full covers were on.

Finally, the rain relented, the Sun came back out and play re-started at 14:13 with a No Ball from Evans, followed by one slightly over-pitched that Josh Shaw drove magnificently to the Long Off boundary. Just 24 more needed.  Wright back on to try to end the stand and started with a No Ball that Josh Shaw cut for a single: 250 up and the second batting point. Josh Shaw was taking a leg stump guard – unlike many of the top order, who were taking guard on Off – and moving forward and across, showing perfect technique. And he was doing more than survive: Parkinson gave him one in the slot and he lifted it magnificently over Long On for a six: just 14 needed. At the other end, Tom Smith was approaching his fifty. Wright strayed outside leg and Josh Shaw clipped beautifully square, getting three and saving the follow-on, as the ball was stopped athletically on the boundary. Finally, with Tom Smith on 47, Wright dropped one quite short that stayed low and came in a long way and pinned him: he had deserved a 50. 273-9 and in came the Ashford Bradman, still without a batting average. Sad to tell, three balls later he was to acquire one when he missed a straight one from Wright, who obtained his sixth LBW of the innings, finishing with 7-53.

Gloucestershire 275ao, 146 behind and Leicestershire in need of quick runs to set a target. Josh Shaw high and dry on 41*, just one shy of his First Class best.

With 51 overs to go – if the weather allowed – and probably 350 the lead that they wanted, Leicestershire would need to score just over 200 runs in about 40 overs in order to get a few in at the end of the day at the Gloucestershire openers.

Bobby Bracey back behind the stumps. Dan Worrall opened with a maiden, but without much threat. Ideally, the Shire needed either to stifle scoring, or to get a big clatter of wickets: either would do. Dan Worrall brought one back into Azad in the fifth over and must have been perilously close to getting him LBW. Five overs gone, 3-0. When would the attack start? Three overs from Ryan Higgins and on came Dom Goodman, who had earned the chance to bowl with an almost new ball and immediately bowled a beautiful delivery at Evans that moved away and almost took the edge. Now, Leicestershire were definitely going for quick runs and Goodman was likely to be the most economical bowler, so this was an excellent move. Even with the batsmen looking for runs, Dan Worrall’s first six overs went for just ten runs, which was just what his captain needed. Back came Ryan Higgins to replace him and immediately he took the edge of Evans’ bat, George Hankins taking an excellent, low catch at 2^nd Slip. 38-1, 184 the lead and the light, poor.

With the Shire +8 on overrate they had no incentive whatsoever to hurry. 54-1 at Tea, from 19 overs, with the scoring in check; after Dom Goodman’s first over went for 10, his next five had cost just 9. Leicestershire now exactly 200 ahead. How would they play this? Might the two captains try to set something up? Back came the rain and the covers and we had to wait to find out. The sensation was growing that without an agreed declaration, a draw might be the only possible result.

The re-start was delayed to 16:55, with a theoretical 34 overs remaining, but little prospect of getting them all in. Josh Shaw bowled one that beat Harris and almost rolled through to James Bracey, which was a little alarming. Leicestershire though were batting busily and clearly trying to score quick runs, but nowhere need as quickly as they hoped. Another spanner was thrown in the Leicestershire works as Harris, Australian Test star, went to drive Josh Shaw and the off stump went over at a crazy angle: clearly, his batting had given him some confidence and he was now showing some real fire with the ball. 77-2, Harris 23 and the lead 223. Next ball, Ryan Higgins got a ball to lift a little and Azad could only edge it to Bracey: 77-3.

Leicestershire seemed uncertain whether to swing the bat and risk losing wickets, or play more conservatively and risk running out of time. They were scoring at a little under 3-an-over when they probably needed closer to 6 to set up an aggressive declaration. 94-3 and Dan Worrall got Patel to edge to George Hankins at 2^nd Slip; Hankins dropped the chance, taking a nasty blow on the finger on his left hand in the process and Kraigg Brathwaite just failed to get to the re-bound. George Hankins vacated the Slips and Chris Dent replaced him. In went a Leg Slip and Dan Worrall almost got Patel to glance the ball to him as the shot flew just wide of his half dive.  One hundred up in the 32^nd over.

With 8 overs to go and the light really gloomy, the umpires decided that enough was enough. The lead 271 and Leicestershire probably 60 short of any sort of declaration target. The draw was beginning to look the only likely result, as the bowlers had stifled any kind of chase for quick runs to set up a realistic declaration.

Day 4:

The only question this morning was the matter of the declaration. Were Leicestershire desperate enough for victory to be willing to set up some kind of chase? Among the  fans, 330-340 seemed to be the minimum that they thought that Leicestershire would set against a side that had already chased-down one target with ridiculous ease this season. On the other hand, taking ten wickets was going to require plenty of time. Again, seeing the ease with which the Gloucestershire tail had batted, you felt that Leicestershire needed to have declared well before the Close to give themselves time to take ten wickets. Any declaration would have to come early enough to ensure a second new ball at the end of the day if they needed to remove the tail. At the same time, quick run-scoring had never been easy at any point – Leicestershire, chasing quick runs, were scoring at just 3.3 runs per over – and it looked unlikely that a chase of, say 320 in 85 overs would be feasible, barring a remarkable innings from someone. With 8 points for the draw, would both sides be happier to let the match fizzle-out rather than take a big risk of defeat?

It did not take long to find out the answer. Leicestershire, 125-3 overnight, started in full assault mode, determined to plunder quick runs. The first six overs produced 39 runs and a wicket when Dan Worralll served up a ball outside off that Patel fenced straight to James Bracey. With barely a fielder in shouting distance of the bat edges, were almost more likely to be scoring shots than balls that were middle, but this one was a gift for the ‘keeper, who was looking so much more comfortable in this innings. 156-4, Patel out for 44, the lead 302. Wickets then started to tumble rapidly as the game resembled a 50-over chase more than a red-ball match.

Thirteen came off a Dan Worrall over, than Ryan Higgins came in for his fifteenth over of the innings. A single to Swindels, then a full toss that Hill swung at, edging onto his stumps. In came Mike who, third ball, played across a Yorker that went between his legs, ripping out middle stump and sending it cartwheeling.  180-6, 326 the lead. How many more would they want? A quiet over from Dan Worrall – 4 singles, 185-6, the lead 331 – and back came Ryan Higgins. Wide of off, Swindells manages to get the toe-end of the bat to it and calls Parkinson for a quick two. Accurate throw to the bowler’s end and a desperate dive from Parkinson as Ryan Higgins took the ball inches from the stumps and broke the wicket. 185-7. Six from Josh Shaw’s over and the final act before the declaration. The batsmen now flinging the bat and running for everything. Two from the first ball. Dot. Single from the third and a No Ball as Higgins altered his line from wide of off to leg stump. Fourth ball short of a length and lobbed straight back by Wright, Ryan Higgins taking an excellent, low return catch, tumbling forward. With Klein injured, in came Evans, the last man. Push to short Mid-wicket and run, Chris Dent hitting the stumps at the bowler’s end direct with a diving throw, with Evans well short.

So, officially 201-9d. 348 to get from a nominal 82 overs. Unlikely, unless Gloucestershire got an extraordinary start. It looked, though, as if Kraigg Brathwaite intended to knock the runs before Tea: 20-0 from 3 overs, with Brathwaite 16*. Evans, the 20-year-old, bowling in the absence of Klein. Ball angled in. Brathwaite fenced and edged at a comfortable height to Patel at 2^nd Slip. 23-1. Kraigg Brathwaite still struggling to adjust to the County game. The wicket slowed the helter-skelter progress, but the score was still advancing at almost 4-an-over, with a the batsmen clearly exploring a chase. With glorious sunshine and a bowler missing, there might be an outside chance. Evans pummelled the ground with his fist as James Bracey drove him elegantly for four. 10 overs, 37-1, 311 needed from 72 overs.

In came Wright, ball down leg, Chris Dent got a touch and Swindells took a good, diving catch. The Captain out for 9, 37-2 and surely any thoughts of chasing, forgotten. 45-2 from 13 overs at Lunch. Straight after the interval, a single to Tom Lace brought the target down to just the 300. A boundary to Square Leg for James Bracey and the 50 was up. Ball from Mike that got up a little on James Bracey and surprised him and yet another one chopped onto the stumps via an inside edge. 52-3, 67 overs left and a Leicestershire win beginning to look a distinct possibility.

Tom Lace and Ian Cockbain had to re-build and did so, cautiously. Survival was not so hard, scoring quickly, was. Slowly, the total mounted. 90-3, back came Parkinson with three men around the bat. Tom Lace cut hard and Patel, at Slip, could not quite hang on to a very hard chance above his head. The scoring had dried-up completely and survival was the only thing on the minds of the batsmen.

The 100 came up finally in the 35^th over when Tom Lace sent a savage cut off Mike to the boundary: 101-3, Lace 27*, Cockbain 19*. 47 overs to go, 247 wanted. A delivery from Parkinson turned a little, beat everything and went for four byes. 42 overs left, 112-3 and stalemate approaching.

Gradually, though, the intensity of the bowlers eased and runs started to come faster. 132-3 at Tea. Tom Lace 40*, Ian Cockbain 33* and 37 overs left. A nominal 216 to win but, more realistically, 7 wickets needed by Leicestershire, although they did not look like getting them. In contrast, Tom Lace was providing the sort of innings that he had promised to so often, but rarely delivered. Seven off the 46^th over, nine, including 2 No Balls from the 47^th as Wright started to tire: could something be on? The rate required was just under a run-a-ball. 150 up in the 48^th over as the batsmen started to pressure the fielders with quick singles. And up came Tom Lace’s 50 in 117 balls with 5x4.

Short ball from Evans, Ian Cockbain launched into it and hooked it for six. 163-3, ten from the over and 185 needed from 32. Gloucestershire started to get a sniff of an unlikely victory. The target 178 from 31. Surely they were not going to strike out for the most unlikely of victories?

Wright bounced Cockbain who hooked, positioning it perfectly between Fine Leg and Square Leg and going to his 50 (112 balls, 6x4, 1x6). 178-3, 170 wanted from 29 overs. Then the scoring rate slowed right down again as the bowlers re-gained some control. 25 overs to go, 155 wanted. Over a run a ball now. Parkinson gave Ian Cockbain one in his zone and Cockbain launched it for an enormous six. Wide one from Mike to Tom Lace and carved for four through Point to bring up the 200 in the 59^th over. A single left Ian Cockbain on strike. Mike gave him one to hit, but he missed it and was… hit amidships… and went down in some pain. 60 overs gone, 211-3, 22 left and 137 to win. 128 from the last 20, Tom Lace 75*, Ian Cockbain 75*. Wright dropped short and Ian Cockbain launched a slog for six back over his head with a horizontal bat, to move to 92*. 11 off the over 100 needed from 17. Parkinson was keeping it tight at the other end, but the quicks were leaking runs and, incredibly, the RRR was coming down slightly. Breathless stuff. The chase was so unlikely that there was less tension than you might have expected.

Wright was visibly shattered, having held together the Leicestershire batting all match and now, as a result, was struggling with line and length. 91 wanted from 15 overs: Ian Cockbain 94*, Tom Lace 92*. Whatever happened, it was heroic. How often in the past have the Shire been 4 down and folded? Now, they were chasing hard. However, there were far too many No Balls from tired bowlers, a lot of which also went for runs and a lot of quick singles and twos. A Wright over went for 14 as Ian Cockbain hooked the last ball for the two that he need for his hundred (101*, 166 balls, 9x4, 3x6). His first Championship hundred since 2014. Suddenly, the Shire were favourites to win. 72 needed from 13. Parkinson to Tom Lace on 97*. Bad ball, Lace went for the boundary to bring up his century and only managed to top-edge high into the sky only to fall where the ‘keeper was waiting underneath. 276-5. The partnership 224. 71 needed from 12 and the match in the balance again.

Back came the inexperienced Evans to relieve Wright and Ryan Higgins pulled him high over Mid-wicket for a boundary. Ten from the over. 61 needed from 11. One from Parkinson in Ryan Higgins’s hitting zone and an enormous six over Mid-wicket. Evans chased Ian Cockbain outside leg and, somehow, Cockbain straight-drove it for four and it was called a No Ball to boot. 300 up . Next ball launched over Long-Off for a huge six. Twelve from the first legal delivery of the over and it seemed that Leicestershire had given up. Seventeen off the over. 38 needed from 9. Suddenly, the Shire cruising.

Tossed up by Parkinson, Ryan Higgins slog-swept it for an enormous six. Overpitched from Parkinson and Ryan Higgins slog-swept again, this time “only” for four. 26 to win, 8 overs to get them. The Rhino was playing the perfect innings, taking the pressure off Ian Cockbain. And, now, the light was becoming an issue. 21 wanted from 7 overs, if the light held. Perhaps mindful of this, Ian Cockbain danced down the wicket to Parkinson and only lofted the ball to Mid-Off (117, 179 balls, 10x4, 4x6). Next ball, Ryan Higgins did the same and was out for 33. Two wickets in two balls and, suddenly, it was 327-6 and two new batsmen at the crease, but the Sun was breaking through and the danger of losing overs to bad light was receding. George Hankins took a single from the hat-trick ball. Six overs left, 19 to win. George Hankins and Tom Smith batting.

Full Toss down the legside from Mike. 4 byes to help the cause. Then got a gentle one outside off the Tom Smith steered through the non-existent Slips for 4. Nine off the over. Five overs left, 10 wanted. Parkinson tossed one up and Tom Smith placed it perfectly through the Covers. Six wanted. The boundary gathered, everyone saving the single, Tom Smith blocked out the rest of the over: it had got that easy. Mike offered George Hankins width, he drove through Extra Cover and the ball reached the boundary for an astonishing win with 22 balls to spare. The 2^nd highest fourth innings chase at Bristol in Gloucestershire’s history.

Incredible. A better chase than the Surrey game. And Gloucestershire 14 points clear at the top.

Not since 1948 had the Shire started with 3 wins and a draw (but Glamorgan won the Championship that year. In fact, Gloucestershire finished 8^th, with 9 wins, 9 draws and 7 defeats)!!

Who’d have thunk it??? I admit... not me!!! #GoGlos

 

Aftermath:

There is a temptation to think that the successful chase was inevitable. On social media there was a clear feeling that it was a very generous declaration and that the task was, somehow, easy. Well, it did not look that way at the time. A comment made by Somerset supporters during that game was that the Gloucestershire batting “looked top-heavy” which, to be fair, it is. Much of the fire-power is in the top three which, less we forget, was shot out in 14.4 overs for just 52. In the first innings, the next three wickets had contributed just 22. When James Bracey fell, 296 runs were needed in 67.2 overs at a rate of 4.4 per over, with the best batting gone.

At that stage, the chase depended on a player who had played just 3 Championship games since 2016 (season when he played just 4 matches) and had no Championship century for seven years and two players who needed runs to be sure of their places, plus the all-rounder who, for years, has been the Plan B in any situation and would be forgiven for hoping that it was time that someone else stepped up every time that they was a crisis.

Gloucestershire 2020 would have folded tamely. As we saw against Hampshire, Gloucestershire 2021 have that quality to take a beating for ten or eleven sessions of a match and somehow turn the situation around. Back in the 1980s, Matthew Engel said of a certain Somerset all-rounder “you know what Ian Botham’s strategy would have been at Dunkirk: he’d have marched on Berlin”; what we saw against Surrey and against Leicestershire was something similar – one more wicket in either game and the situation would have been critical, with survival no better than a fifty-fifty bet, but Ian Harvey and Chris Dent have put some steel into the spine of the side and they now find ways to turn a certain defeat into a draw and a certain draw into a win.

Credit to Leicestershire who, a bowler down, with a tired and inexperienced attack and having seen the rain wreck their plan to declare on the third evening, still made a game of it. Had that chance given by Tom Lace been taken, they could well have won the match still. There was a lot of criticism of the bowling as the chase advanced: Gloucestershire’s task was made easier by 15 byes and 16 No Balls (27 byes and 38 No Balls in total in the match) and, in the final session, there was a lot of poor bowling to hit, but that was because the bowlers were exhausted and the fielders were being run ragged. It is hard to imagine, if you did not watch it, just how much Tom Lace and Ian Cockbain pressured the fielders and the bowlers with their placement and running. So many singles became twos and twos became threes and gentle nudges were so placed that they became boundaries that it must have been utterly dispiriting for a Leicestershire side who saw victory slipping away and were powerless to stop it. Similarly, Young Alex Evans, just twenty years old and, in his third First Class game, promoted to opening bowler, was finding the ball chasing him in the field, ensuring that he could not relax, even when not bowling: it is hard to believe that it was an accident that he was constantly chasing leather in the outfield rather than being able to rest between spells.

Much will be made of the fact that this is the best Gloucestershire start since 1948. However, it is as well to remember that promising starts do not win Championships. In fact, in 1948, Gloucestershire finished in a discrete, mid-table position. Granted that, in 1948, the Championship consisted of 26 games, while this is a 10-game sprint, in which a good start is essential, but Somerset and Hampshire are still uncomfortably close and even Surrey are not out of contention, while defeat to Middlesex this week would put them back in contention too.

County Championship Round 3: Hampshire v Gloucestershire

 Preview:

So, the only two sides in the country with a 100% record are to meet in the star encounter in Round 3. Hampshire have blown away Middlesex and Leicestershire. Gloucestershire have, to the surprise and delight of their fans, won hard fought contests against Surrey and Somerset. Not since 1931, we are assured, have the Shire won their first two games. In what is a short season, the winner of this clash would look already to have almost unstoppable momentum towards a top-two finish and a tilt at being County Champions. Everything indicates that this will be the hardest game of the season so far for the energised Shire. It is also a major litmus test of the Shire’s season: in theory, the first two games of the season were the hardest of this first round and, after Hampshire, Middlesex and Leicestershire are lesser tests; of course, the challenge will be to maintain the level and not to slip-up against what appear to be lesser challenges.

So far, five Hampshire batsmen have scored centuries in the first two rounds and a sixth has a fifty in each innings so far, providing a major challenge for the Gloucestershire attack. The Hampshire bowling has been as devastating at the batting led by 12 wickets at 8.9 for Mohammad Abbas, backed-up by 9 wickets @ 20 for Kyle Abbott and 7 at 20.7 for Ben Wheel. Overall, these are numbers that impose respect. And, lest one forgets, there is also a major spin threat: Hampshire leg-spinner Mason Crane also has six wickets, albeit at a slightly more expensive 39.2.

So, Hampshire promise to provide a massive challenge both to the batsmen and the bowlers. Who will the Shire put out against them?

This game brings the first selection crisis of the season. Dan Worrall is in Bristol and available, but will undergo a fitness test before the game, which puts the selectors in an embarrassing situation if he is cleared to play. Gloucestershire are allowed to play two overseas players, but have three on their books. If Dan Worrall and Kraig Brathwaite play, Graeme van Buuren cannot because the paperwork for his qualification by residence is paralysed in the system due to the COVID crisis. Graeme van Buuren, though, had a starring role in the win against Surrey and has done a job as spinner in both games. Without him, Gloucestershire lose their main spin option and a middle-order batsman in prime form. A second issue is that David Payne’s wife could go into labour at any time and, if she does, it is likely that he would withdraw from the squad. This could give Dominic Goodman a chance to retain his place, although Josh Shaw was withdrawn overnight on Monday from the 2^nd XI game v Yorkshire after having taken the new ball on the first day and is added to the squad, as are Tom Smith and Ian Cockbain who were also withdrawn today from the 2nd XI match.

The suggestion is that Graeme van Buuren’s potential absence from the XI is being covered by both Cockbain and Smith – the latter will play if a spinner is required, the former if no – with no fewer than six seamers picked in the squad to cover all eventualities.

Management have made a statement about their ambitions for the season after this good start by signing New Zealand T20 international Glenn Phillips for the Blast. He will also be available as cover for the final two Championship group matches for which Dan Worrall is not available. If a top two finish in the Group is on the cards when we come to those last two games, management have stated that they are prepared to spend to attain it.

 

Day 1:

James Vince won the Toss and decided to bat in the sunshine, so Gloucestershire bowled first for the third time in a row. Gloucestershire made multiple changes, enforced and unenforced. Dan Worrall was passed fit to play, but David Payne was missing from the XI on the day (with more important, family issues on his mind). The call-up of Worrall meant that Graeme van Buuren missed out as third overseas player and was replaced by Ian Cockbain (for his first game since 2018). And Josh Shaw came back in place of George Scott. The good news for GvB is that there are high hopes that his status will change to English-qualified shortly. The outfield, showing the lack of rain in April, was showing signs of turning brown and, without the normal lush grass of spring, was very fast.

The Shire made a bad start with Bobby Bracey seemingly dropping Weatherley, third ball, from Dan Worrall as he dived to his right, although it was hard to tell if it was an edge or a ball that seamed prodigiously. The player reaction seemed to indicate that there was no edge, but the TV images appeared to show an edge that would not have carried to Brathwaite at 1^st Slip. Either way, Worrall was, at least at the start of the day, sometimes getting the ball to move a lot off the pitch. A push to Square Leg by Holland from the last ball of Ryan Higgin’s first over opened the scoring while Dan Worrall got another edge off Weatherley that just fell short of a diving 4^th Slip. Six overs gone, 10-0.

With nothing much happening, James Bracey advanced to the stumps to Ryan Higgins and was surprised by a ball that rose and hit him on the right shoulder. Ten overs gone, 19-0 and Matt Taylor relieved Dan Worrall, whose first spell had been a good one and should have been rewarded with a wicket in his first over. The pitch was looking far better than it had for the Middlesex game and was expected to get easier still, especially on Days 2 & 3. On came Dom Goodman for the 12^th over: straight ball first up, Weatherly played across it, hit in front – 19-1, Weatherly gone for 8. Astonishing. Holland fenced at Matt Taylor outside off, but could not quite get an edge and the ball only just reached James Bracey, again suggesting the easy pace of the pitch. Poor balls were few, accurate bowling was constant and scoring opportunities limited. Dom Goodman dropped one short and it climbed alarmingly, hitting the shoulder of the bat, but ballooning safe. 38-1 from 20 overs. Although the occasional delivery had risen, far more were just barely making it to the wicket-keeper. Attritional cricket.

The 50 came up with a crunching cut to the boundary by Holland of Worrall the end of the 25^th over. Slowly, the batsmen were getting on top, but the run-rate was fixed at 2. With little run-scoring to cut-off, there were three or four slips all morning, but there was little to interest them. 65-1 at Lunch from 32 overs.

The same tonic post-Lunch. A lot of dot balls salted with the odd scoring shot or boundary. One ball from the Rhino, whose first five over spell had gone for just 7 runs, went down leg and beat everything, going for three byes – a rare blemish – while Holland produced a crunching cover drive to the boundary later in the same over. As if disapproving of such frivolity as seven off an over, the batsmen went back into their shells against tight, probing bowling and five overs went by without a run off the bat. As the run-rate dipped below 2, the tactic seemed to be to tire the bowlers and to wait for run-scoring opportunities later in the day, aiming to create scoreboard pressure by accumulating a huge total.

Holland’s 50 came in 138 balls and, soon, the hundred was up in the 44^th over, with Holland 60* and Alsop, 23* and signs that the score was accelerating. The captain asked for the ball to be changed but, after a careful examination, the umpire returned it to him saying that it was not out of shape. Possibly distracted by the interruption, Holland aimed a flick down leg to the next ball; James Bracey got a glove to it, but could not hold on to a difficult chance – he had been uncharacteristically untidy and this was the second chance missed. Scoring was becoming easier as the bowlers lost their line a little. At the same time, as the ball got softer you wondered how much the lack of a spinner was going hurt the Shire: how long before Chris Dent turned to Kraigg Brathwaite for an exploratory bowl?

At 143-1, Dan Worrall induced an edge from Holland’s bat. It went straight to Kraigg Brathwaite at 1^st Slip and went down. Holland 77* and a bad one to miss. As if in atonement, Kraigg Brathwaite came on for the 58^th over and was milked for a two and a single from Alsop to bring up his fifty from 134 balls (5x4). After a 4-over spell that was fairly inexpensive, but not too threatening, we went back to an all-seam attack. Slowly, Holland moved up to the 90s as runs started to come more freely. Two to Square Leg off Matt Taylor took him to 98* out of 191-1. Two boundaries to Alsop from Josh Shaw moved the score to 199-1 and the focus moved back to Holland, still on 98*, with Kraigg Brathwaite and James Bracey seen to be on constant animated conversation behind the stumps.  A single took him to 99* and brought up the 200 at the end of the 73^rd over, keeping him on strike. Short ball from Josh Shaw that he tried to hook and hit him in the chest and, finally, a pull to leg for the two that took him to 101* (229 balls, 13x4). It was an innings of application rather than great elegance and was grinding-down the bowling.

The captain, resplendent in sunglasses and his ponytail tied in a bun, brought himself on to try some occasional left arm spin. The first ball turned and kept very low, but slowly enough for Alsop to cut for two. Seven off the over as the two batsmen milked him. Alsop moved into the 90s – 218-1 and still 20 overs left in the day.  Runs flowing far faster than they had for the first half of proceedings. Up came Alsop’s century (200 balls, 11x4) as he punished the last Josh Shaw over before the new ball was due. Back came Dan Worrall to take it and, finally, with his second delivery, he got a ball through Holland’s defences to have him LBW for 114 (250 balls, 15x4), 247-2. Some relief at last.  Worrall 1-26 from 14.2 overs and with his very next ball he almost took the edge of new batsman, Sam Northeast. Back came Ryan Higgins to share the new ball and the scoring slowed again, but there was very little hint of a sudden fall of wickets. 90 overs gone, 266-2 and Matt Taylor back into the attack for the last few overs of the day, along with Dom Goodman, who had again been exceptional. Dan Worrall (19-7-38-1) and Ryan Higgins (19-7-35-0) had been admirably economical, but would have preferred a few more in the wickets column.

Two overs to go and Gloucestershire resigned to going into Day 2 with a sizeable problem. Matt Taylor, who had been a little expensive, bowled one down leg. Northeast chased it and got a tickle to Bobby Bracey who made no mistake. Northeast waited for the decision, but it was 291-3 and a bonus wicket. In came Mason Crane, who played a most peculiar defensive shot off Goodman and survived a loud shout for LBW that maybe was just going down. 292-3, Alsop 127* at the Close.

It was not a “wheels off waggon” day but, as was inevitable, a day when things did not go as hoped was due sooner or later. Hampshire batted with enormous patience and reaped the rewards, while the Gloucestershire attack largely bowled pretty well for very little reward. However, this was a day the lack of a front-line spinner was missed. The bowlers know that they are in for another hard day tomorrow.

Day 2:

Another start in glorious sunshine, if a little cold for Kraigg Brathwaite’s taste. With overs running out to accrue bonus points, Gloucestershire needed three wickets in fourteen overs for a second point. Hampshire, with two batting points in the bag, a third a mere formality and a fourth, likely, were going to want to bat for at least two sessions before declaring. The Hampshire strategy looked to be to bat once, make inroads in the evening session and then give their attack a night to rest and start again on the third morning.

Third ball, Alsop shuffled across his stumps and Dan Worrall pinned him in front but, unfortunately, to a ball pitching outside leg… His shuffle across the stumps meant that he would always be in trouble if he missed, but the problem for the bowlers was that he was not missing many. Then nightwatchman Crane played and missed, continuing to try to convince the bowlers that he was not planning to hang around. The 300 came up at the end of the 101^st over; the early breakthrough that Gloucestershire needed had not come yet. Finally, Ryan Higgins got a ball to lift a little and move away and Crane edged through to Bracey. 302-4 and 8.4 overs to take two more wickets. The bad news was that Crane’s departure only brought in James Vince. James Bracey advanced to the stumps, but it seemed evident from the tranquil batting that Hampshire were not interested in chasing the extra batting point. With eight balls left for bonus points Ryan Higgins rapped Vince on the pads, but the huge shout was met with icy silence. 110 over gone, 322-4. Bonus points 3-1 to the hosts.

Josh Shaw changed to bowling round the wicket, barely within the tramlines to Alsop. What initially looked like a couple of wild deliveries was a tactic that almost paid off as Alsop took a wild slash at one that just barely missed the edge but, at the same time, hardly lifted after pitching and bounced twice before reaching Bracey. Then there was a strange moment when Vince charged down the wicket at Josh Shaw, aimed a wild heave that clipped the inside edge and reached James Bracey on the half volley. Bracey could not take it cleanly and could not react in time to throw down the wicket. It was another moment of frustration, another “if only” moment when, on a day when fortune was not with the Shire, Vince could have been out twice to the same delivery. Finally, Ryan Higgins bowled one down leg, Alsop tried to nudge it and Bracey took a fine catch. Alsop strangled down leg for 149 (290 balls, 19x4), Hampshire 332-5. The bad news was that Ryan Higgins was bowling some very fine balls that made you wonder what the Hampshire attack could do.

Once again though, things settled down and the ball went back to doing very little. Dom Goodman came on for another tight spell, but runs still came at the other end and Hampshire were clearly accelerating for an afternoon declaration. 376-5 from 125 overs at Lunch and you wondered where a wicket might come from.

However optimistic he might be, one suspects that Dan Worrall would not have imagined that he would be on a hat-trick early in the afternoon session as Vince passed his 50. 403-5, Vince and Dawson rubbing it in. Then, unexpectedly, a waft outside off, inside edge from Vince and James Bracey took a low catch that barely reached him. Vince out for 52. In came McManus. High backlift. Jabbed down on one outside off and the edge sailed to the captain, at 2^nd Slip, who took a low catch diving forward. McManus stayed, presumably thinking that it was a bump ball. The umpires consulted and, after a long delay, McManus went. 403-7. Hat-trick ball, wide of off, swinging further away and ignored by Abbott. The batsman though did not hand around for long. Yorker from Worrall. Abbott hit straight in front. 419-8 and Dan Worrall on 4-67. At 291-2 you would imagine that Chris Dent would have taken this position. However, Dawson was still there and knows how to hold a bat. Up came his 50 with a boundary and then a cut for two off Higgins. 436-8 and the ninth wicket partnership was becoming a nuisance. Dawson was making it clear that he was going to add runs as quickly as he could. He launched the Rhino high into over Mid-Wicket to bring up the 450 with a six in the 141^st over and move into the 60s. Another curious moment as he crashed a ball over Long Off and, thinking that it was four, did not run until the more alert Wheal had almost reached his end as the ball was intercepted inside the rope. Next ball he tried an even bigger wahoo and edged it onto his own stumps. Dawson gone for 65. Ryan Higgins with 3-75.

The last pair decided to swing at everything and, for a short while, it came off. Yorker from Ryan Higgins, a swing and a miss from Abbas . 470ao and Higgins with a highly respectable 4-78. In retrospect, though, one suspects that Tom Smith will be thinking that he should have been in the XI instead of one of the seamers and it would be hard to argue that he is wrong if he was thinking it. Even so, the figures for Worrall, Higgins and Goodman were pretty heroic in a total of 470.

The Shire needed a good start, but did not get it. Brathwaite opened the scoring with a confident clip to Square Leg for two and the batsmen played busily, taking singles where available to rotate the strike. The pitch looked easy. Abbas was not looking threatening. Then he bowled a straight, full length ball at Chris Dent, which the captain, with his spread-eagled stance, simply missed. Dent LBW Abbas 6. 18-1 and out walked James Bracey in an all too familiar crisis. However, an idea of the nature of the pitch is given by the way that Liam Dawson was wheeling away as early as the 9^th over. Hampshire were already thinking that it would be a long haul and that they needed to be spelling their quicks.

30-1 from 13 overs at Tea and a lot of hard work to do for the batsmen. The first target would be 321 and the follow-on. A push for a single from Kraigg Brathwaite brought up the 50 in the 21^st over as he and  Bracey batted sensibly, minimising risks. The 50 partnership came up in the 25^th over with a clip off his hip from James Bracey. A fine cover drive for four brought Kraigg Brathwaite’s 50 (51*, 90 balls, 4x4), 93-1. Bracey switched to an Off Stump guard against Dawson and brought up the hundred with a cut behind point. Brathwaite 57*, Bracey 36*, in the 35^th over. 10 overs to the Close. Both batsmen playing with confidence and few alarms. Could they stay together to the end of the day?

James Bracey pushed away from his body and the Chinese cut just passed the stumps. Dawson was wheeling away accurately, but with little threat. Then he pitched one on Off, it turned a little and caught Kraigg Braithwaite’s edge, with McManus gratefully swallowing the edge. Brathwaite 60 (116 balls, 4x4), 106-2 and some of the shine had gone off the session. Six overs remained and out came Tom Lace. The day ended extremely quietly: just two singles came off the last five overs. Tom Lace again, a sleeping partner, 0* at the Close after 18 balls; he needs to convert starts into 50s and this is just the pitch on which to play yourself into form as, provided that you play straight, there is little danger. 114-2 from 45 overs at the Close, Bracey 46*.

Again, much will depend on James Bracey tomorrow, but the match already looks to be heading towards a hunt for bonus points. If Gloucestershire avoid the follow-on tomorrow – 321 – which they should do, it is hard to see a route to a positive result. As important in the context of the season will be to reach 350 in 110 overs.

So, a much better day, today. Dan Worrall (31-11-74-4), Ryan Higgins (32.1-9-78-4) and Dom Goodman (25-8-54-1) were all heroic with the ball. Kraigg Brathwaite has his first 50 for the Shire and has shown that he is adapting to County cricket. And James Bracey is approaching another fifty. But the middle order has to stand up and be counted tomorrow: the Shire need two big partnerships from them.

Day 3:

Bright sunshine again. Kyle Abbott opening with a maiden to James Bracey. Attention back on Tom Lace, facing Holland at the other end. First and third balls swinging away well outside off and ignored. Second, straighter and met by an impeccable forward defensive. Fifth, full and down leg, clipped away confidently to the boundary. Tom Lace was on his way. After six overs, the Shire 128-2, with Tom Lace 13* and James Bracey so far only adding a single to his overnight total. However, a cut to the boundary in the 8^th over of the morning took him to another 50, made off 136 balls (6x4). A push for a couple from Lace took the Shire to 150-2 in the 57^th over (Bracey 59*, Lace 19*), batting looking comfortable, with Hampshire using Abbas at one end and Dawson at the other.

Tom Lace has made a bad habit of getting to 20, looking solid and getting out and, with the partnership approaching 50, he did it again; fence outside off at a ball from Abbas and a gentle edge to the ‘keeper. 151-3 and, once again, just as the batsmen were getting comfortable and on top, a wicket fell. In came Ian Cockbain for his first innings in two seasons. What the Shire did not need was to lose a wicket in bizarre circumstance, but James Bracey left a ball from Abbas that was straight on Off Stump and hit middle and off: the crazy angle at which the middle stump was leaning suggested that it was not a great leave. Now, it was 158-4 and the follow-on was looking a long way away. Bracey out for 65 (169 balls, 7x4). Liam Dawson’s 17 overs had cost just 25 runs. The pressure right on Cockbain and Higgins and not much batting left after them.

181-4 from 75 overs at Lunch and the follow-on mark looking further than ever. Ian Cockbain 12*, Ryan Higgins 11*, 140 more needed. However, you felt that if the follow-on were saved, probably there would be too little time left to get a result.

First ball after Lunch a bit full toss from Crane to Ian Cockbain, gently stroked through the covers for a boundary. 200 up with a turn square by Ryan Higgins from the mean Dawson, as the trial by spin continued after Lunch. First bonus point in the 83^rd over and the scoring had slowed so much that even 300 in 110 overs was looking tricky. What runs were coming were mostly off Crane at the other end, who was less accurate, but getting the odd one to bounce and turn nicely. Cockbain 23* and Higgins 19*, battling hard. Back came Abbott with the new ball and immediately got Ryan Higgins to fence at one outside off: a nasty moment that he survived… just. Still, both batsmen were playing confidently. The partnership was standing at 49. Abbas bowled a lovely ball that moved in a little. Ian Cockbain played all round it and the Off Stump went flying. 205-5, Abbas 4-38, Cockbain 24 (101 balls, 2x4) and Gloucestershire back in the Pits faster than you could say “Sebastian Vettell”. It was the tonic for the day: Hampshire were stopping every partnership before it could become dangerous.

In came George Hankins, another player with bags of talent, who wanted a score to cement his position. Another wicket and Hampshire would have fancied their chances of enforcing the follow-on with a huge lead but, after a slow start, the pair played with increasing confidence. The chances of a third batting point disappeared, but the more important target of 321 was getting closer. A quick single for Ryan Higgins, pushed to off brought up the 250, his own 50 (113 balls, 2x4) and the second batting point, in the 105^th over. Then the batsmen started to accelerate against Crane and Dawson. Crane offered a huge full toss that George Hankins hammered to Mid-Wicket, although only for a single, then he served-up a long hop down leg that Ryan Higgins despatched with considerable violence. Dawson dropped one short and Ryan Higgins met it and launched it over Long On for six, watching the ball’s flight like a golfer who has just sent a perfect two iron onto the centre of the green. 271-5 at Tea, Ryan Higgins 64*, George Hankins 25*, 199 the deficit and just a single over left for bonus points.

Crane resumed after Tea, just the 29 needed from 6 balls for a third batting point. 273-5 at the end of the 110^th over and 2 batting points for the Shire, 1 bowling point for Hampshire. 4-3 to the home team overall. Crane overpitched and George Hankins launched it to the Long On boundary. Next ball Crane delivered a perfect ball that pitched middle and turned away. Possibly taken by surprise, George Hankins played across his pad and was absolutely plumb. George Hankins 31 (73 balls, 3x4), 283-6 and the follow-on still 38 away, which brought Holland back to try to remove the tail. Then, the killer blow: a poor ball from Crane well outside off, Ryan Higgins went to sweep violently and only managed to edge the ball onto the stumps. Higgins out for 73 (139 balls, 3x4, 1x6). Gloucestershire 288-7 and the excellent work of the batsmen before Tea undone. 33 to save the follow-on and only the bowlers left. Matt Taylor tried to launch Crane out of the stadium and the ball fell between two fielders then, inexplicably, Dan Worrall left a perfectly straight delivery next ball that hit all three stumps. 298-8 and things starting to look very black for the Shire. The second batsman to be bowled leaving a ball that hit middle… add two batsmen having dragged on wide balls: the bowlers having more than their fair share of fortune.

300 up in the 118^th over, but now things were getting serious. Defeat was becoming a real possibility. A two hit high over Dawson’s head and then one swung to the Mid-Wicket boundary by Josh Shaw: 8 needed. Next ball, Dawson defeated Shaw’s forward defensive, clean-bowled, 313-9. Oh dear! In came Dom Goodman, an excellent bat at junior levels, but a genuine #11 at this level. Single to Matt Taylor. 7 needed. A couple more singles to Matt Taylor. 5 wanted. Another single. 4 wanted and just 108 overs left in the match. Goodman was hit on the pad with consecutive deliveries by Dawson who implored the umpire to give them, both though were going down leg. Then Dom Goodman got off the mark with a nudge to Fine Leg for two. Just 2 needed. A drive for a single by Matt Taylor… one more. Every ball that passed the bat was met either with an appeal for a catch, or McManus whipping off the bails and asking for a stumping. With one more wanted to save the follow-on, Matt Taylor cut at Dawson and the ball flew to Vince at Slip. Vince juggled twice and, finally held on. Gloucestershire 320ao, Taylor 11, Goodman 2*. 150 behind. 6 overs left in the day. Matt Taylor and Dom Goodman had resisted for eleven and a half overs and, surely, had done enough to save the game.

Hampshire, 132 overs in their bowlers’ legs, had to enforce the follow-on and did. Chris Dent turned Abbott to Long Leg for a single and Gloucestershire were on their way, then Kraigg Brathwaite left a ball from outside off from Abbott that came back a long way and kept low and only just missed Off Stump, scuttling through for two byes. Not good for the nerves. The batsmen survived though. 14-0 at the Close. Kraigg Brathwaite, 10*. Chris Dent, 2*. 136 to make Hampshire bat again. The Shire are not going to win this one, but could lose it if they are not careful.

Day 4:

The equation was simple for both sides. Hampshire needed ten wickets on a pitch where the occasional ball was going through very low and the occasional ball was turning, but not sharply. Gloucestershire had to bat far enough past Tea to make a chase impossible. The supporters of the Shire were to be put through the wringer.

In reality, the equation was more complicated. If Gloucestershire got ahead, every run and every over counted double: one more run to chase in the fourth innings, one fewer over to get the runs. And, on the Hampshire side, their attack had bowled 138 overs off the reel already. Abbas and Abbott had been rested after Tea the previous day, but that meant even more overs for the support bowlers. With a potential 80 overs to the handshake, James Vince faced his side being in the field for almost 220 overs if they could not bowl out the opposition (in the end, they spent 229.1 consecutive overs in the field). This would be an interesting balance for both sides, Gloucestershire knew that the sooner that they could get ahead, the better the chance of saving the game and of some easy runs later in the day, but they could not afford to give away wickets. Hampshire knew that if they over-attacked, they risked giving away runs that would make their task harder. The match should be a draw, but how the two sides went about getting to it would be fascinating. That it ended as a draw was down to the heroics of Shaw and Goodman who held on for 22 overs but, ultimately, the bowlers were too exhausted to finish the job after almost 230 overs in the field.

Again, bright sunshine. Abbas opening to Kraigg Brathwaite, who tucked the fifth ball of the day behind Square to run an easy single and start the scoring, followed by a nicely clipped boundary off a ball from Abbott that was over-pitched on leg. However, the need to see off the new ball attack and tire the bowlers led to maiden after maiden being bowled; it was not until the eighth over of the day that Chris Dent pushed the single that took him off his overnight 2*. Slowly the scoring chances started to appear: Chris Dent clipped Abbas nicely off his legs for three, a rather ungainly Brathwaite deflection to a ball that lifted from Abbott went to the Cover boundary. 29-0 after ten overs of the morning and on came the change bowlers and, with them, two wickets. Perhaps the batsmen relaxed too much as the opening attack came off. Whatever the reason, both Wheal and Dawson took wickets in their first over.

Chris Dent got a good ball outside off from Wheal that lifted a touch. He played at it with an angled bat and the edge went high to  Dawson at first slip, who took it by his face, tumbling backwards. Two balls later, Dawson was on and offered a tempting ball outside off that Kraigg Brathwaite advanced to and drove in the air, miscuing to Abbott. Two wickets in three balls, both openers gone, 33-2 and the Shire staring down the barrel. Fifty up in the 25^th over (50-2, Bracey 9*, Lace 7*) and now it was simply a fight to survive. James Bracey had to contend with a Silly Point, a Short Forward Square Leg and a Slip very close in. He drove at Dawson, edged and it was 50-3. Scoreboard pressure was now playing on the minds of the batsmen and an innings defeat was looming.

Only 27 overs were bowled in the morning session. Despite using the spinners much of the time, the need to conserve the strength of the bowlers led to a dreadful over-rate. Gloucestershire 67-3, Tom Lace 20*, Ian Cockbain 3*. Still 83 behind.

Post-Lunch, Tom Lace and Ian Cockbain came back out and battled hard. One ball from Abbott lifted alarmingly outside off and Lace swayed back in an undignified, but successful attempt to avoid it. On came Crane and a cut for a single took the Shire half way to making Hampshire bat again. Then Ian Cockbain mowed a ball down leg to the Square Leg boundary. The two spinners offered a huge contrast in styles. Crane was more liable to bowl the unplayable ball, but does offer scoring chances, while Dawson offered very little to hit, inviting the batsman to commit suicide out of pure, scoreless frustration. Tom Lace has struggled to pass the twenties recently, but a single of Crane took him to 30 and then consecutive boundaries off Wheal – the first, a magnificent cut, the second an edge along the ground between ‘keeper and First Slip – took him to 38* and the Shire past 100, bringing up the 50 partnership. 101-3, 49 behind, Cockbain 20*. Wheal bowled a ball well outside off that was angling in, Tom Lace edged and Wheatley took a fantastic, diving catch, low at very wide Second Slip. Lace perhaps a little unlucky not to get away with it, but 103-4, with 52 overs to go, Hampshire were taking their chances, something that Gloucestershire had not done. Tom Lace out for 38 and the Shire back in trouble.

Slowly the runs were being whittled down. Wheal dropped short and Ian Cockbain hooked imperiously to go to 34* and reduce the deficit to 28. Abbas was into his third spell of the innings and was walking back to his mark increasingly wearily after nearly 200 overs in the field. A No Ball for a wild bouncer that McManus only barely managed to haul down brought the deficit down to 20. 40 overs left, Gloucestershire 132-4 (Cockbain 35*, Higgins 13*), just 18 behind and this had a look of a last effort from the Pakistani quick, although, in 17 overs the new ball would be due and Hampshire were looking increasingly likely to need to use it.

Tea came at 133-4, Cockbain 36*, Higgins 13*, 17 behind and a nominal 38 overs to go. For the first time in a while it had definitely been Gloucestershire’s session.

Abbott partnering Crane after Tea. Now, just a single Slip and no other close fielders for Crane. Another hour together for Cockbain and Higgins and surely the match would be safe. The bowler was unable to replicate the precision of Dawson that had brought so much pressure on the batsmen. Unfortunately, though, Abbott though was still steaming in and got one past Ian Cockbain’s bat that hit him in front. Cockbain 36 (122 balls, 4x4) and the match back in the balance, still 17 behind and George Hankins the last specialist batsman. Suddenly talk of a ten to five touch of elbows again looked awfully premature. The Shire making it interesting again when the hard work seemed to have been done. A beautiful straight drive down the ground from Ryan Higgins brought the deficit down to 1. Crane then offered him with next ball and Ryan Higgins cut hard to take the Shire into the lead and him to 28*. Abbott though was not finished. Beautiful delivery to Higgins, cutting in a little, inside edge, Middle Stump uprooted. 154-6, the lead just 4 and Higgins out for 29. The match had swung yet again. Hampshire clearly favourites to finish it off.

For 44 balls George Hankins and Matt Taylor hung on, almost scoreless. With two overs to the second new ball, Wheal struck what seemed like the final, killer blow. Short ball, George Hankins ducked. The ball brushed his glove on the way to the helmet and flew to Vince in the Gulley, who snaffled the rebound. Hankins out for 8 and Gloucestershire 161-7. In came Dan Worrall. First ball was fast an straight, Dan Worrall’s forward defensive was down the wrong line. Leg stump uprooted. 161-8 and Wheal on a hat-trick. In came Josh Shaw, ultimately the hero of the hour, who was perilously close to nicking the hat-trick ball as it went down past leg. Last over before the new ball. Mason Crane bowling and a sense of the inevitable in the air. Crane bowled a ball to Matt Taylor that turned in. Taylor offed no stroke and was palpably LBW. Three wickets had fallen in six balls. 161-9 and 22 overs and a new ball for the last pair to survive. The position looked hopeless.

Wheal kept rushing in and Josh Shaw was able to nudge one on his legs for four. 15 the lead, 21 overs to go. Then an guide through the slips for another boundary next ball: 19 ahead. A ball down leg from Crane that beat everything and the batsmen scrambled 3 byes: 11 runs in 3 balls and the lead up to 23. The new ball was taken in the 83^rd over and Abbas came back for a final effort. One more over ticked off, then a second, then a third and a fourth. Fourteen overs remaining if there was a change of innings and the lead now 28. After five overs with the new ball, Dawson was back – Abbot had been given just two overs – and then Wheal replaced Abbas. Josh Shaw kept inching up the score as Dom Goodman held firm at the other end. Seven overs maximum left for Hampshire to bat, 32 the lead… surely they couldn’t pull this off? Horrible imaginings in the Hampshire side of the win escaping. A bubble of hope among the Shire fans. Still Wheal had the energy to rough-up Goodman with a bouncer. Finally, Dom Goodman got off the mark with a single to leg from his 39^th ball. Six overs maximum to bat, the lead 34. Five men round the bat for Crane. A bye from a wild one down leg and a sixth fielder joined the ring around Dom Goodman who scooped one just out of reach of Silly Mid Off, the ball running to the boundary. A maximum of 5 overs to bat, the lead 39, Josh Shaw 19*, Dom Goodman 5*. Still Wheal had the energy to bowl a bouncer, but now the equation was looking increasingly difficult for Hampshire. Josh Shaw sent a Chinese cut for four, the lead was now 43 and, even if the last wicket fell next ball, Hampshire would have just 4 overs to chase them. A long conference between the batsmen in mid-pitch. Six men round the bat. Crane bowled a huge full toss that Dom Goodman despatched with aplomb. 47 the lead and, now, Hampshire must have known that it was all over. Wheal charged in for one, last effort, but Josh Shaw hardly had to play a ball. With five overs remaining, the lead 47 and a maximum of 2 overs after the change of innings, Hampshire called it off.

Josh Shaw and Dom Goodman showed that, albeit against exhausted bowlers, it was a pitch that a determined batsman could survive on. They had done so for 17.3 overs and had added 36, precious runs. The Shire has escaped with an extraordinary draw and 11 points and stayed second in the group, sixteen points ahead of Somerset and twenty-five ahead of Middlesex, who they face next.

The stuff of legend. #GoGlos      

County Championship Round 2: Somerset v Gloucestershire

  

Preview:

After the remarkable win against the group’s #2 seeds, now comes an away match against the #1 seed.

Should anyone be feeling overconfident, in the corresponding Bob Willis Trophy match last year, Gloucestershire were shot out for 76 and 70. And in the 2020 pre-season friendly against the same opponents, lost by an innings, dismissed for 273 and 130. You get the picture. Will 2021 be different? Well, Gloucestershire had by far the better of the 2021 pre-season friendly and won both return T20s. That is not to say that the Shire are not big underdogs going into this match, but there is some room for hope that things will be different in 2021.

Kraigg Brathwaite, who was at the Bristol County Ground to watch his new teammates winning: he cannot fail to have been impressed. Brathwaite will open with Chris Dent and allow Bobby Bracey to move away from the new ball and get a break between keeping wicket and coming out to bat. With Bracey at 3 and Tom Lace or Graeme van Buuren at 4, the top order starts to look a very solid one, with a mix of styles. The pre-match assumption was that George Hankins would be the one drop out of the XI to make a space for Kraigg Brathwaite. And, with Josh Shaw’s groin injury, Jared Warner was likely to replace him in the attack, having substituted for Shaw on Sunday. Jared Warner took the new ball for the 2^nd XI v Worcestershire 2^nd XI, taking 2-44 in the first innings however, he did not bowl in the 2^nd innings, although he did come out as nightwatchman: he has been replaced with Dom Goodman, a young seamer, in the XIII. Despite Tom Smith’s good form in the 2^nd XI match and Taunton’s reputation for turn, Ian Harvey has resisted the temptation to add him to the squad, relying in Graeme van Buuren’s left arm orthodox and Kraigg Brathwaite’s off spin.

The final XI will be an interesting balance because either Goodman plays as an extra seamer, or George Scott will be promoted to fourth seamer, with an extra batsman, probably Hankins, playing.

Day 1:

Chris Dent won the Toss and inserted, as against Surrey under fluffy white clouds and plenty of blue sky, although a cold morning. Today though the issue was more divided than in the first round with five sides choosing to bat and four inserting, so Dent was bucking the trend a little.  What Kraigg Brathewaite, hands deep in pockets at First Slip, must of made of the temperature did not bear thinking of. However, seeing the umpires with gloves and mufflers gave you an idea of what the conditions were like.

Somerset went with a powerful-looking line-up. Gloucestershire went for five seamers, with Dom Goodman making a debut and Jack Taylor missing out. It did not take long for Chris Dent to see some reward. Banton took a boundary off David Payne’s first over, before Ryan Higgins took the edge of Lammonby’s bat with a beautiful delivery slanted across the batsman, straight into the midrift of George Hankins at Second Slip. Somerset 4-1. Higgins was looking threatening and passed Banton’s outside edge with a beauty of a delivery. He then induced another edge from Tom Abel that fell well short of Hankins, inducing Bracey to come up to the stumps. There were though not too many alarms for the batsmen and, with a fast outfield, anything too straight was clipped to leg and went straight to the boundary. 42-1 after 10 overs and the score was mounting faster than the Captain would have wanted. Payne, coming to the end of his new ball burst had Banton in his sights for an over. Last ball, a lovely inswinger squeezed through the gap between bat and pad. Banton lunged to try to stop it trickling onto the stumps, but too late. 43-2 and the decision to insert was beginning to pay off.

In came Dom Goodman to the attack. Very tall, not unlike David Payne. Not express pace, but rapidly he got a ball to lift past Hildreth’s nose from not very short of a length. And he beat Hildreth’s bat with a ball that lifted a little and moved away. Next ball, Hildreth drove and the bat went under the ball. Hello, Dom Goodman! Definitely a fabulous impression from his first over as he beat Hildreth’s groping bat with each of his last three deliveries. Impressive. Very impressive.

Somerset kept re-building and seemed to have steadied the ship when Abel decided to play an exaggerated leave to a Matt Taylor delivery that moved back in and took the pads in front of off. Abel out for 26, 69-3 and Somerset, if not in strife, in some difficulty. Again, a flurry of boundaries – Somerset applying the same approach that Surrey had last week – and Hildreth, who was starting to look increasingly dangerous - got a ball from Matt Taylor on off stump and clipped to Tom Lace at Square Leg who brought off an excellent catch and charged in, fit-pumping wildly in delight. Somerset 80-4 and probably not in the sort of position that they had hoped for. However, we have seen this before from Somerset: their batting starts at #9!!

94-4 at Lunch, from 33 overs. Gloucestershire’s session. Sixteen boundaries – 64 runs – in the session. Like Surrey had, you got the impression that Somerset were trying to make a point and impose themselves on these country upstarts… and losing wickets because of it. There was not enough taking singles, upsetting the bowler’s rhythm.

It did not take long for Somerset to hit a few more boundaries and lose another wicket after Lunch. Ryan Higgins to Bartlett. Bartlett tried to turn to leg, the ball cut in, LBW 22. Somerset 110-5. Payne dropped short and Davies hooked enormously for six, then next ball for four. Once again, runs were coming uncomfortably fast and, once again, the batsmen seemed to be getting on top. Would they stay there this time?

Over 50. Halfway through the extended day of 100 overs and Somerset 163-5 and beginning to dominate the bowling. Davies 46*, Overton 19* and the Shire needing to break a stand that was now past 50, with the inexperienced Goodman and Scott in harness. Out came the helmet and Bobby Bracey advanced to the stumps for Scott. Overton swung hard at Scott sending the ball into the stratosphere, but it dropped safe, pulling up before the boundary. Davies seemed to have been on 49 for an age and finally, to his relief, he drove Goodman through the covers for two (51*, 91 balls, 8x4, 1x6). The Somerset permanent attack mode was, finally, paying dividends. 200 up in the 59^th over and Somerset beginning to dominate.

Back came Matt Taylor, another swing from Davies – three fielders converged as the ball went high into the air, again falling safe. Overton’s 50 (52*, 66 balls, 8x4) came with another crunching boundary off Taylor and Somerset were 222-5 after 65 overs at Tea. The partnership 112.

Finally, the Rhino got a nice one on a fourth stump line to Overton who, obligingly, edged it straight to Hankins at Second Slip. Finally, the breakthrough. Overton 54 (88 balls, 8x4). 226-6 and the Shire back with a chance of dismissing Somerset for under 300. Ryan Higgins 18-6-47-3 and showing that his success has not been down to playing against Second Division batting.

With Davies moving into the 80s, supported by Lewis Gregory, we moved into the pre-new ball “phony war”. Scott and van Buuren in harness, resting the front-line attack and Somerset adding singles warily, in search of the second batting point. New ball taken by Payne. Somerset fans crowing in the chat. Wide one outside off. Wild slash from Gregory. Thanks very much! Scott took a good catch in the Gully. 255-7. Davies seemed frozen with fear at his approaching century and had his outside edge passed time and again by Ryan Higgins. Finally though, it was a mistimed drive to Payne that took the inside edge onto the stumps. 264-8 (Davies 87, 180 balls, 12x4, 1x6) and the day swinging back towards the North of the River Avon as the light started to fade. Would the Somerset tail wag violently, as it has so many times? De Lange whacked Ryan Higgins straight back over his head for 4 and the tactics became clear: yes, the batsmen planned to have some fun. De Lange then thumped Payne back over his head for six.

Then things went quiet again. 300 up in the 92^nd over and Dom Goodman into the attack after his excellent first spell in the morning. Just when you thought that Somerset were playing for the Close, Mark Taylor dropped a little short and De Lange hit the ball into the flats, where a gentleman with a Wyvern flag put the chance down. Finally, the moment that Dom Goodman was waiting for: 4^th stump line, maybe some movement. Big edge to Brathwaite at 1^st Slip and gone.  Out came the Taunton Lara to see off the over. Matt Taylor to de Lange. Mis-cue into orbit on the leg side and Tom Lace raced in to finish the innings.

Somerset 312ao. More than looked likely just after Lunch, fewer than Somerset would have hoped for. And 3 overs for the Shire to face under the floodlights.

Lewis Gregory with the new ball. Brathwaite to face. 4 slips and the first ball wide and going wider. Two, tucked off his hip to the second ball and he was under way. Three slips and a gulley for Craig Overton and Chris Dent cut him disdainfully to the cover boundary. 13-0 at the Close and a tricky period navigated. The game is very much even.

Day 2:

Alert Shire-watchers may have noticed that the Group 2 table shows Gloucestershire on top overnight thanks to their three bowling points. Today, the aim was batting points; much would depend today on the start that Brathwaite and Dent could provide. Most media seemed to award Day 1 to Somerset but, to me, it seemed quite an even day.

The batsmen started Day 2 busily. After a quiet first over, both Chris Dent and Kraigg Brathwaite helped themselves to boundaries, although Gregory beat the Captain’s outside edge with a beautiful delivery. However, both openers looked in good touch, with an early blitz of nicely placed boundaries. Just when you started to think of a quick fifty partnership, Overton slanted one into Kraigg Brathwaite’s pads and the umpire raised the finger. Brathwaite stayed and stared for a while, but it looked like a pretty good shout. 41-1. In came James Bracey who was to go on to dominate the day, while Chris Dent responded to the wicket with an extraordinary slash over the slips for four (although it could have gone anywhere), with the ball losing itself inside the covers. Five Somerset fielders spent several minutes searching before the ball was found!

The 50 came up in the 11^th over as Chris Dent took three consecutive boundaries off Gregory. Fourteen off the over and, despite the loss of Kraigg Brathwaite, Gloucestershire were flying with the run-rate close to 5. On came Josh Davey to replace the expensive Gregory and order was restored initially with some mean bowling before Dent and Bracey started to tuck in to both Davey and de Lange. Dent’s 50 (70 balls, 9x4) came up out of 85-1, guiding Davey through Third Man, from the last ball of the 21^st over: he is in fine form again. Finally, though, he fenced at one too many outside off and edged de Lange through to Davies (50, 82 balls, 9x4). 87-2 and the session evening-up again. Soon Jack Leach was spinning his magic web, which was a delight to watch, unless you were the batsmen or a nervous supporter. Between them, de Lange and Leach stifled the batsmen very effectively. 97-2 from 33 overs (Bracey 24*, Lace 2*)  at Lunch and progress had slowed to a crawl since the Captain went.

You got the feeling that the first half hour after Lunch would be critical. Leach was threatening and you could see two or three wickets falling quickly if the batsmen did not navigate this difficult spell. Bracey brought up the 100 with a lovely reverse sweep that was cut off on the boundary (100-2 in 35.2 overs). For some reason, 100-2 looks so much better than 99-2… or 105-3, doesn’t it? Then, Tom Lace went after Overton: his first cover drive flew to the boundary, his second, next ball, flew straight to Banton at Cover. Lace out for 7 and an unnecessary wicket. In came van Buuren. Overton dropped short and Bracey hooked him over Deep Square Leg for six. Van Buuren then got a nasty ball from Overton that cut back a little and lifted and he could only edge it to Gregory at Slip. 119-4 and the comfort of 101-2 forgotten.

However, James Bracey was still there and took run-scoring chances where he could.  Gregory to Bracey on 49*. Ball tucked off his hip. 50* (115 balls, 6x4, 1x6), Gloucestershire 137-4. Bracey and Ryan Higgins moved into “good cop, bad cop” mode, with Bracey solid and pushing the singles and Higgins looking busy and aggressive. Another boundary from Ryan Higgins and the 150 was up in the 52^nd over. Higgins was taking guard well outside the crease and keeping the scoreboard moving. Gregory then gave James Bracey a short ball outside leg that Bracey hooked magnificently for four. The partnership was getting towards 50 (and the follow-on mark was approaching), when Ryan Higgins fenced at one from Davey and could only guide the ball to Hildreth at Second Slip for 23 (46 balls, 3x4, 160-5). A promising start, but he could not convert. Slowly, Somerset were working their way through the batting. Bracey though was still there and consecutive boundaries off de Lange took the Shire past the follow-on (which some of the cheekier Somerset fans were wondering about) shortly after Lunch. Would anyone stay with him? George Hankins could not: he played around a straight one from de Lange and was LBW. 177-6 and the good start was becoming a distant memory. The Shire in danger of conceding a big lead.

In came George Scott. He played and missed his first two balls and must have been desperately close to being LBW to Davey with the third, finally getting off the mark with a lofted shot that was just out of the reach of the leaping bowler. Not the best start if you are a nervous supporter. 189-6 at Tea from 67 overs and, despite all Bobby Bracey’s efforts (79*), progress was slowing to a crawl, with George Scott hanging on, 1*. More of the same after Tea, then Leach dropped one a fraction short and George Scott launched him high and handsome over his head for six. Where did that come from? Four to Bracey from Gregory and the 200 was up and the first batting point in the 71^st over, with Bracey up to 83*. Somerset ahead, but this was no repeat of 2020. George Scott then tried a massive hoick to leg in Leach’s next over, fortunately getting away with an air shot. Steady George!!

Finally, just as he seemed to have settled down, Gregory gave him some width outside off. Scott drove without due care and attention and Overton took a simple catch. 203-7, Scott 10. And a lot depending now on James Bracey. New ball taken at 217-7, with Bracey on 92* and 23 overs left in the day. Vital to get through it. Short ball from Overton to Matt Taylor and an imperious hook for four. A two for Bracey off Overton took him to 97*. He tried to clip the next ball to leg and there was a huge shout, mainly of frustration, for LBW. A leg bye. Davey to Bracey. Clip off the hip and the ball raced to the Square Leg boundary. 101* (208 balls, 14x4, 1x6) and the Shire 239-7, with Matt Taylor giving sensible support at the other end. De Lange to Matt Taylor: width and slashed hard, but the Banton at Cover could not quite hold on to what would have been a brilliant catch. To keep up the drama, James Bracey drove de Lange and the blade snapped off the handle, but he still ran the single holding on to what remained of the bat! Out came a selection of new bats and Bracey picked his weapon. Bracey 108*, Taylor 20*, 248-7. Single to Bracey and the 250 up. Then a sweetly struck boundary to bring up the fifty partnership. De Lange did not look happy. Four to Matt Taylor off Gregory and the deficit was under 50. Finally, Gregory found the edge of Bobby Bracey’s bat and Hildreth pouched the catch gratefully. Bracey 118 (234 balls, 15x4, 1x6). 274-8, 38 the deficit. It was a fantastic innings and had put Gloucestershire right back in the match.

Still the tail wagged. It was wonderful to watch. Leach dropped a fraction short and Matt Taylor launched him many a mile over his head. Then a boundary off Gregory. 100 overs up, 292-8. Taylor on 49*, 297-8 and de Lange gave him one in the slot. Superb cover drive, 50 (53*, 92 balls, 7x4, 1x6) and the 300 up in the last over of the day. 301-8, Taylor 53*, Payne 9*. 11 the deficit and the game even thanks to a wonderful effort from Bracey and Matt Taylor.

 Day 3:

In this match situation the pressure is very much on the side batting third. Gloucestershire were, effectively at parity, obliging Somerset, who needed the win far more than the Shire, to make the pace, albeit on a pretty blameless surface. The questions for the morning were: how many runs could the last two wickets squeeze out (a fourth batting point was surely out of the question with only 8 overs remaining)? And, how would Somerset go about setting a target?

Just three runs had been added when David Payne went to drive de Lange and the tall bowler reacted well to hold on to a fine, low return catch. 304-9, Payne, 10. In came Goodman, ex Exeter University and was received with a fairly vicious bouncer, which he ducked. A single, tucked off the hip gave him his first run in First Class cricket. It was all quiet and genteel, apart from the bouncers from de Lange. When he finally bowled one in the batsman’s half, Matt Taylor played all round it. Gloucestershire 309ao, a deficit of 3. Matt Taylor LBW 56 (115 balls, 7x4, 1x6). Just eight runs added in half an hour. Effectively, we had a one-innings match with six sessions to play. What sort of target would Somerset set?

Tom Banton saw off the first over from David Payne and it was Lammonby, who was on a run of 5, 0 & 0 this season, to face Ryan Higgins. Guard half a stride down the pitch. Second delivery, the ball moved away from him. Lammonby edged and Bobby Bracey threw the ball up joyfully. Somerset 2-1 after just 8 balls. The Rhino is a kind of rich man’s Jon Lewis in that he scores centuries as well as taking a lot of wickets… but then, Jon Lewis took wickets in quantity for 16 seasons for the Shire. Then came one of the great commentary quotes of the season “despite that… I don’t see a cascade of wickets coming”. If only he had known…

Abel too was taking guard to Ryan Higgins half a stride down the pitch, apparently in an effort to negate his threat. Straight ball, Abel pinned in front and LBW 6. Somerset 18-2 and in strife. Higgins 2-7. Banton and Hildreth played sensibly for a while, pushing the singles in a way so unlike their thud and blunder first innings. Matt Taylor on as first change. Banton pushed at a ball just a fraction outside off and Chris Dent took a good, low catch. Banton 18, Somerset 36-3. In came Bartlett, with Somerset needing someone to blunt the attack for a couple of hours. Higgins got a rest and Dom Goodman came on. Bartlett got a good ball, just outside off. Edge and Bracey took a second catch. Golden duck for Bartlett. Somerset 37-4. Gloucestershire fans blinking in disbelief.

In came Steve Davies, with Somerset desperately needing him to reproduce his first innings batting. For a time, Hildreth and Davies accumulated carefully and seemed to be settling the innings. Payne and Higgins came back. Again, a good delivery in the channel just outside off, Davies edged and George Hankins pouched a fine catch at Second Slip. 68-5. What on Earth is going on here? With Ryan Higgins bowling occasional jaffas, the nerves of the batsmen were on edge and they were making mistakes. There was no extravagant bounce or movement, just nagging line and length. In fact, the whole attack was bowling superbly to plan in a way that Chris Dent could hardly have imagined possible save in imaginary games, played in Elysium. Frankly though, the Somerset batting reeked of nerves and you wondered if Graeme Gooch (he who once called Gloucestershire “Minor Counties West”) was watching this.

The Rhino to Overton: straight ball, far too straight for Overton, who played inside it and heard the death-rattle as the ball took off stump. It was the sort of ball that he must dream of delivering. 71-6, the lead 74 and Ryan Higgins 3-18. Matt Taylor to Gregory. A fairly aimless push to a delivery that was straight, but by no means lethal and the ball flew into the air towards Ryan Higgins at Midwicket (you could not keep him out of the game), who took a comfort catch. Somerset 88-6. Hildreth 32* and very little from anyone else. It must have been a relief for the batsmen when the players went off to line-up around the boundary for two minutes silence before the extended Tea break. What Prince Philip, no mean off-spinner, would have made of the Somerset batting, does not bear thinking of. Great credit to Somerset though on one front: the tribute to Prince Philip on the scoreboard during the break for the funeral was in the best traditions of respect and dignity.

The hundred came up in the 43^rd over. Hildreth (42*) and Davey (2*) playing attritional cricket against accurate bowling. Finally Hildreth broke the spell with a cover drive for four off Ryan Higgins to go to his highest score for two years (46*). There were edges, some more controlled than others and a few good shots, but the lead was increasing slowly. The consensus was that Somerset needed 180 to have a chance. On came van Buuren, Davey took a step down the pitch and the ball flew high and handsome for 4 to the long boundary. Next ball, Davey tried again and miscued for 2. Finally, Hildreth tucked Payne off his hip for the single that took him to 50 (124 balls, 7x4). Somerset 124-7. Back to attrition, with not much happening until, suddenly, van Buuren got one to bounce and turn big, beating the outside edge. Van Buuren was asking some questions and Davey’s answer was a superb reverse sweep for four. On came Dom Goodman and Hildreth drove him elegantly for 4: 140-7, Hildreth 63*. This was the critical phase of the day; for the first time, Somerset were getting on top.

Then, the unexpected happened. Goodman bowled a straight one to Hildreth, who seemed to play a half-hearted late cut. The ball hammered into the pad with the bat apparently nowhere near ball and Hildreth was out for 64 (150 balls, 8x4). Somerset 143-8 and a wicket-maiden for Dom Goodman who, once again, had made something happen. The action was so bewildering that you watched it time and again and still could not really work out the sequence of events. Somerset fans on social media were furious, believing that the umpire had robbed them of the game but, apparently there was another angle that was not shown on the live stream that demonstrated that the umpire had got it absolutely spot on. Either way, it was a very strange shot.

In came de Lange. One assumed that he would take the attack to the bowlers. Van Buuren bowled a straight one. De Lange missed, it hit the pad. Simple as that. Once again, good line and nagging length were rewarding the bowlers when a batsman made a mistake. The only doubt could have been if it would have gone under middle stump. 143-9 and Somerset were right back in the pits. The talk was of the Hildreth dsmissal and daylight robbery, but, in truth, it was an awful Somerset performance that was threatening to lose them the match, not the umpiring and Gloucestershire could point also to two LBW shouts that looked awfully adjacent but that were not given.

A push for a single by Leach brought up the 150 lead. How many could Leach and Davey add? Ryan Higgins came back. Davey edged. Brathwaite dropped it, grabbed again and finally held on. Davey out for 22. Somerset 149ao. 153 to win. It had been a sorry effort by Somerset.

Out came Kraigg Brathwaite and Chris Dent. Gregory with the ball. Bright sunshine. Single from the first ball to start the chase. Then Chris Dent played a delicious drive that just stopped short of the Long On boundary. Four off the first over and the Shire on their way. No great alarms and just ten overs to play, but Overton then gave one Dent on fourth stump line. Dent tried to leave and inside edged, exactly the same shot and exactly the same inside edge as against Surrey the previous week. Stumps akimbo and Dent furious. 10-1. Bracey came in an edged just short of First Slip. Somerset came alive and suddenly showed the passion that had been singularly missing for the last 4 sessions. As the shadows encroached on the pitch, Gregory passed Bratwaite’s bat and everyone went up. Not out, but you could not help thinking that if Somerset had shown this passion for the previous four sessions they would have been well on the way to victory by now, instead of battling to avoid defeat. Another wicket and you felt that nerves would start to shred.

A wild bouncer from Overton was signalled wide and you could see the Somerset heads dropping as Brathwaite and Bracey saw it out to the Close. 28-1, Brathwaite 8*, Bracey 10*. 125 more to win. Gloucestershire’s day by a country mile.

The match is not yet won. Gloucestershire need to come out and bat sensibly and well in the morning but, that first victory against Somerset in far too many years should come sometime after Lunch if they do. #GoGlos

Day 4:

So, le Crunch, as our French friends would say in perfect Franglais.

The equation: 125 to win, 9 wickets left, but much would depend on Brathwaite and Bracey to get a solid start. One fifty partnership should be enough to do it.

The reward: a first win at Taunton since 1993. That’s 28 years ago. Several of this Gloucestershire side were not even born then.

In contrast, Somerset needed to strike fast and frequently. Would they blow the batting away, or were they scarred by their third day implosion? Since mid-afternoon on Day 2, when they were right on top, little had gone right for the Cidermen.

A beautiful morning at Taunton, the sun shining down on the distant Quantocks. James Bracey facing. Gregory with the ball. First ball, a confident cut to Point that was stopped. The second, on leg, clipped firmly to the Mid-Wicket boundary. Bracey already looking in supreme form and confidence. Four from the first over and little sign of threat or tension. Overton to Brathwaite: a maiden, but already there were signs of some interesting mannerisms in Brathwaite’s leaves that promised to  entertain the fans through the season. Overton though was causing Brathwaite some problems outside off, although Brathwaite responded with a clip through Mid-Wicket for four. Overton bowled one down leg, James Bracey tried to guide it to Fine Leg and bowler and Slips went up in a raucous appeal that was not given. Overton was furious and threw the ball down when it got back to him. Short ball on leg from Overton and Bracey hooked it to the boundary. The 50 up in the 6^th over of the morning and the runs required down to 100.

Overton was bowling like a demon, but nothing much was happening after those early deliveries beat Brathwaite. Bobby Bracey looking solid and unfased and Kraigg Brathwaite supporting him solidly.  First half hour seen off, no wickets and Gloucestershire bringing down the runs required at a good rate. On came Leach for the tenth over of the morning. What a fine bowler he is, but this was not to be a good day for him at all. He offered a short, wide one and Brathwaite cut it powerfully to the boundary. 68-1 from 20 overs, 85 wanted. De Lange gave Bobby Bracey some width and was carved for four. The batsmen were getting on top and Bobby Bracey was clearly trying to unsettle the bowlers and managing it. Leach dropped one a little short and Brathwaite hit it powerfully through Midwicket; the magic was not there and the attack was not managing either threat or control. Another short ball from Leach and Brathwaite cut forcefully for another boundary: 82-1, Brathwaite 34*, Bracey 38*, 71 needed. Already there was an air of the last rites to the match. Leach offered one outside off that turned into Bobby Bracey a little and beat everything: four byes and just 64 wanted. Leach aiming for the footmarks outside Bracey’s off stump and, briefly, looking much more threatening.

First hour done. Somerset needed a wicket desperately and it arrived in strange circumstances. Very wide ball from de Lange. Brathwaite carved at it and got an under edge that ripped out his middle stump. 89-2, Brathwaite 36 (62 balls, 4x4). In came Tom Lace, needing a score to confirm his promise. Another wicket would makes things interesting and Tom Lace almost provided it with a nervous attempt to snatch a quick single: he was well down the pitch when he realised that Bracey had not moved. Bracey went on the attack: reverse sweep for four, an edge that was stopped just short of the boundary and then a conventional sweep for four – ten from three balls and the little bit of pressure that was built up was relieved. Bracey on 49*, Gloucestershire 99-2, 54 wanted. Paddle-sweep off Leach and Bracey had his 50 (51*, 84 balls, 8x4) and the Shire the hundred up. Bracey gave Leach the charge and hammered the ball just past the bowler, following it with another reverse sweep for four from the last ball: again, 10 off the over and the target down to 44, with Lace still to break his duck. A cover drive for two started Lacy’s account and a No Ball from de Lange brought the target down to 40. Another reverse sweep brought the target below thirty as Bobby Bracey kept on the attack. Wide ball from Leach to Tom Lace who accepted the present gratefully with a cover drive to the boundary that must have made him feel so much better; just 18 required now.

The last few runs came in a rush, as is so often the case. A lovely on-drive from Lace took a boundary from Overton, just 12 wanted, Bracey 77*, Lace 12*. Powerful conventional sweep from Tom Lace and just 7 were needed. A wild wide from Overton, 5 needed. Clip to Deep Backward Square Leg, two to Lace, just 3 needed. Lace pulled hard and the fielder on the boundary managed to cut it off. Scores level. Bobby Bracey, the hero of the match for the Shire to face. Leach in his sights. Full toss, hit through mid-wicket. Four to Bracey to take him to 83*. Lace 20*. And the win.

What a performance from the Shire!     

Retrospective:

During the afternoon session on Day 2, Gloucestershire were 177-6 and collapsing. Somerset were licking their lips and looking at a lead as large as one hundred, depending on how fast the tail was blown away by their highly-rated attack. That was the Somerset high water mark. From there, little went right for them. James Bracey and Matt Taylor showed that there was not too much wrong with the pitch and pushed Gloucestershire up to parity. From there, the pressure passed to the Somerset batsmen who had to set a target. The Somerset implosion was extraordinary. Like the Surrey batsmen the previous week, they saw demons where none existed in the pitch, a product, quite possibly, of not respecting the opposition bowling sufficiently. Although Somerset are famous for their tail-enders bailing them out of trouble, first with bat and then with ball, Gloucestershire kept to plan and made sure that there was to be no recovery.

The result was a first defeat for Somerset at Taunton in four seasons and a first Gloucestershire win at Taunton for twenty-eight.

The gap between Gloucestershire, second in Group 2 and Somerset, third, is now more than full bonus-point win points. Things could potentially get even better for Gloucestershire, as Surrey are facing a possible sanction for ball-tampering as they tried to force a win against Leicestershire.

For Gloucestershire, there were heroes everywhere. Ultimately, the plaudits went to James Bracey, who scored more than 200 runs for once out in the match, led the first innings recovery and shepherded the final morning chase. With 269 runs, including a century and two fifties already, Bracey has the fifth highest run aggregate in the land. Almost as important, though, are the 228 runs and three fifties of Chris Dent. Added to his calm captaincy in both wins, Dent has had a magical start to the season, only lacking a century of his own to be perfect. Kraigg Brathwaite did not get big runs in his debut, but his calm presence on the final morning and participation in a partnership of 79 that killed any chance of an early panic in the batting, showed what Gloucestershire have gained with him at the top of the order.

Among the bowlers, although he has not managed headline figures in any innings, only Ollie Robinson has more wickets than Ryan Higgins in the first two rounds: 13 @ 15.2. Nine wickets for Matt Taylor at 25 apiece and eight, slightly more expensive for David Payne, show how well the bowling unit has performed, while Dominic Goodman came in for a First Class debut and had a fine game (1-36 & 2-19): he will remember that debut over to James Hildreth for many years. Both Graeme van Buuren and George Scott stuck to their supporting roles and helped spell the quicker bowlers, without giving anything away, with van Buuren removing de Lange when Somerset were hoping for some violent blows from him to change the tide. The fielders, with George Hankins and Tom Lace to the fore, backed up their bowlers, holding some excellent catches. Tom Lace will also feel good for getting through a sticky patch at the start of his innings to see Gloucestershire home.

What no one can doubt is that Gloucestershire have made tremendous strides over the winter and, with Dan Worrall to join the attack at the Ageas Bowl, will have the chance to field a full-strength side for the first time in the season.

If you had looked at the fixture list and picked out Hampshire v Gloucestershire as the star game of the early rounds, you might well have been regarded as certifiable. Hampshire have spent several seasons struggling near the foot of Division 1 and many forget that Gloucestershire deservedly won promotion in 2019. However, these are the only two sides in the country that have won their first two games; the side that wins this game would start to build up tremendous momentum towards qualification for the Championship contesting group at the end of the season.